League Two Betting Markets & Odds

While the Premier League may dominate football betting in England, you can also wager on matches and outright outcomes in League 2. 

The fourth and final tier of professional football in the UK, League 2 features famous and well-supported clubs from all over the country, including an increasingly star-studded Wrexham, 1911 FA Cup winners Bradford City, and Notts County, who are the oldest professional football club in the world. 

There are also plenty of ways in which you can wager on this competition. But what are the most popular League 2 betting markets here at Parimatch, and how can you navigate these successfully? 

As we’ve already touched on, League 2 is the old Fourth Division and represents the fourth tier of professional football in the UK. 

Currently, 24 teams compete in League 2, each of which plays 46 matches every season between the months of August and May. In total, 552 League 2 games are contested during each campaign, with the teams placing in the top three ultimately earning automatic promotion to League 1. 

A fourth side is promoted via the playoffs, which sees the sides that finish fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh compete in a knockout competition. The teams that finish in the bottom two places will drop out of the EFL and into the National League. 

Since the division was rebranded as League 2 in 2004, Chesterfield (2010/11 and 2013/14) remains the only side to win the title twice. Interestingly, current EPL outfit Brentford won the League 2 title in 2008/09, while Bournemouth also earned promotion from the division as recently as 2010. 

When you engage in any type of football betting, you can access thousands of wagering markets here at Parimatch. But which of these are the most popular? 

League 2 Outright Betting: Outright or futures bets can be placed on long-term League 2 outcomes, such as the identity of the team that will win the title in a particular season. You can also bet on which sides will be promoted automatically or via the playoffs while also wagering on who is most likely to drop into the National League. If you want to bet on more than one team to be promoted, you can combine these selections into a single wager if you wish! 

Match Betting: You can wager on every single one of the 552 League 2 matches contested each and every season, while accessing hundreds of associated betting markets in the process. In addition to backing one side to beat another or betting on the draw (which is an outcome that has occurred in 23% of League 2 games in 2023/24), you can also wager on both sides to score (BTTS) or not and the over/under on the total number of goals scored. 

Team and Player Prop Betting: We find that in-play betting is incredibly popular here at Parimatch, which is why we offer a diverse selection of team and player props. This wager type enables you to bet on in-game events that don’t directly relate to the end result, with popular examples including backing the identity of the first goalscorer in a game and the team that will lead at half-time. Ideally, you should try to watch the matches that you bet on in-play, while disciplined bankroll management is key given the sheer number of markets available. 

Within these League 2 betting markets, there are a number of different wager types. Some of these bets can help you to create value and potentially maximise your returns, without overtly increasing your level of risk. Here’s a glance at the most popular football bets: 

Over/Under Betting on Total Goals 

‘Totals’ betting unlocks over/under markets, which relate to different outcomes that can occur in a match. Most commonly, you’ll access the over/under on the total number of goals scored in the game, with Parimatch setting multiple betting lines for you to consider. 

You’ll then wager on whether the actual number of goals scored will be over or under your chosen betting line, creating an even money market with only two potential outcomes. 

You can also analyse relevant form and data to inform your selections. Similarly, you should note that the 552 League 2 games contested in 2022/23 yielded 1,294 goals at a rate of 2.34 per 90, which is typical of the average produced in recent seasons. 

Both Teams to Score (BTTS) 

This is another even money market and one that requires you to bet on whether or not both teams will score in a particular game. 

On average, 60% of matches in the English Football League see both teams score, while this outcome occurred in 58.9% of League 2 games in 2023/24. So, it’s a highly popular market, especially when wagering on contests between two evenly matched fourth-tier sides. 

Once again, you can study team form and relevant head-to-head data to source BTTS insights while distinguishing between home and away form to make more informed decisions. Interestingly, you can also combine this with other match betting markets to create lengthier odds. 

Handicap Betting 

Handicapping is another strategy that can be used to create value in match betting markets, particularly in instances where a heavy favourite takes on a struggling opponent or underdog. 

But how does the market work? Well, let’s say that you wanted to back favourites Harrogate to defeat Doncaster at the EnviroVent Stadium but were put off by the Sulphurites’ starting price of just 2.50. In this case, you could back them to win with a small handicap of -1.5 goals at enhanced odds of 4.75. 

In this case, Harrogate will need to win by at least two clear goals for the wager to be successful. This creates a heightened level of risk, so you’ll need to study both sides’ form and recent head-to-head record to determine whether this is offset by the increased returns on offer. 

The key is to use handicap betting wisely and sparingly, and only in instances where one side has a demonstrable advantage over their opponent. Often, a cursory glance at the League 2 table and recent form will help to identify such matches, while injury and suspension data may also be informative. 

The League 2 Winner odds show Stockport as top favourite, followed by Wrexham, Mansfield and Barrow.  

Wrezham is also looking up in the League 2 Promotions odds, but looking at the unlucky teams, Forest Green, Sutton and Colchester are all in the League 2 Bottom 2 Finish odds. 

Our League 2 outright odds also include a plethora of markets, like Top Goalscorer, Top Half Finish, Bottom 3 Finish and more. 

Before you submit that first bet slip with us, please take some time to familiarise yourself with our Safer Gambling Portal. This is our all-important hub explaining all the responsible gambling tools at your fingertips to help you stay in control of your soccer betting activity. 

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